Easel stand



March 3, 1964 KADIN 3,122,858

' I EASEL STAND Filed March 6, 1963 IN VE NTOR.

4770mm: 7's

United States Patent 3,122,858 EASEL STAND Mels E. Kadin, PA). Box 472, Gates, Greg. Filed Mar. 6, 1963, Ser. No. 263,151 4 Claims. (Cl. 45-429) This invention relates to an easel stand and relates more particularly to a means for supporting a picture or the like, which stand is readily collapsible to facilitate storage and handling.

A primary object of this invention is the provision of an easel stand which is sturdy and durable in construction, reliable and efiicient in use, and relatively simple and inexpensive to manufacture, assemble, utilize, and maintain.

Another object of this invention is the provision of a collapsible easel stand which may be utilized to support a picture for display or a canvas for painting.

Another object of this invention is to provide an easel stand having an upper and a lower picture support means slidably carried on a main standard means for easy adjustment to accommodate various sizes of pictures.

A further object of this invention is the provision of an easel stand of the type described wherein the slidable picture support means includes spring-pressed stop means to secure the picture in a predetermined relationship with respect to the main standard means.

A still further object of this invention is the provision of an easel stand having a main standard means, an auxiliary standard means, and a base support means, each foldably secured to the main standard means for movement between a supporting position and a collapsed position.

Another object of this invention is the provision of a collapsible easel stand having a base support means formed of a pair of transversely extending foot members and a rearwardly extending foot member, wherein the transversely extending foot members are foldable against opposite sides of the rearwardly extending foot member and the rearwardly extending foot member is foldable against the back of the main standard means.

A further object of this invention is the provision of such an easel stand wherein the transversely extending foot members are biased into the supporting position by a pair of spring-pressed bracket means.

Another object of this invention is to provide a foldable easel stand having a material holding tray foldably secured to the lower picture support means.

Yet another object of the instant invention is the provision of a collapsible easel stand which is of relatively light weight, and which includes a main standard extension means removably securable to the upper end of the main standard means to provide for additional length, if necessary.

Other and further objects reside in the combinations of elements, arrangements of parts, and features of construction.

Still other objects will in part be obvious and in part be pointed out as the description of the invention proceeds and as shown in the accompanying drawing wherein:

FlGURE 1 is a side elevational view of an easel stand in accordance with the instant invention, showing in dashed lines a picture frame supported thereby and a main standard extension means also in dashed lines, and also showing the collapsed position of an auxiliary standard means and a base support means in dashed lines, with certain parts in section for illustrative clarity;

FIGURE 2 is a front elevational view of the easel stand shown in FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a cross-sectional view taken substantially on line 33 of FIGURE 1 and showhlg the collapsed position of the transversely extending foot members in dotted lines;

FIGURE 4 is an enlarged cross-sectional View taken substantially on line 44 of FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 5 is an enlarged longitudinal cross-sectional view through the upper picture support means showing the main standard means in dashed lines and with certain parts broken away for illustrative clarity;

FIGURE 6 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken substantially on line t6 of FIGURE 2; and

FIGURE 7 is an enlarged fragmentary side elevational view of the upper portion of the main standard means, showing the means for removably securing the main standard extension means in cross-section and showing in detail the relationship of the main standard means to the auxiliary standard means when the latter means is folded into its collapsed position.

Similar reference characters refer to similar parts throughout the several views of the drawing.

Referring now to the drawing, reference numeral 10 indicates generally an easel stand in accordance with the instant invention which will be seen to comprise basically a main standard means 12, a lower picture support means 14 and an upper picture support means 16 slidingly caried by the main standard means 12, a base support means 18 pivotally secured to the lower end of the main standard means 12 and an auxiliary standard means 26 pivotally secured to the rear of the main standard means 12, adjacent the upper end thereof.

The main standard means 12 is comprised of a single vertically extending member and may have secured to the rear surface of its upper end a spacing block 22 for a purpose to be described in more detail hereinafter.

The lower and upper picture support means 14 and 16, respectively, are substantially identical and each includes a picture support member 24 or 26, respectively, extending transversely of the main standard means 12 and disposed in abut ing relationship with the front thereof. First and second face members 27 and 29 are secured on the opposite sides of each picture support member to a pair of slide members 28. The face member 29 is approximately as wide as the picture support member and acts as a back rest for the picture frame. The slide members 28 are disposed in abutting relationship with each side of the main standard means 12 and have in wardly directed flanges 34? disposed in abutting relationship with the rear of the main standard means 12 on each of the lower and upper picture support means 14 and 16. The slide members 23 are notched at 31 to receive the picture support member as will be described further hereinafter. Spring pressed hinge members 33 secure each picture support member to the slide members 23 behind the face member 29. The slide members 28 are dimensioned so that they are slightly wider between the face members and the flanges 30 than the thickness of the main standard means 12 to facilitate sliding engagement therebetween. The spring pressed hinge men bers 33 normally urge the picture support member into the notches 31 to secure the picture support means 14 or 16, to the main standard means 12. Note particularly FIGURE 5. To adjust the picture support means, the picture support member 24 or 26 is pivoted against the urging of the spring pressed hinge members 33 to free the same for sliding movement on the main standard means 12. If desired, a friction member (not shown) such as sandpaper or the like, may be secured to the rear of the picture support members to enhance their engagement with the main standard means when they function as stop or locking means.

The upper surface of the picture support member 24 on the lower picture support means 14 comprises a picture engaging surface 38, which and is slanted upwardly away from the main standard means 12. Likewise, the lower surface of the picture support member 26 on the upper picture support means 16 comprises a picture engaging surface 463, which is slanted downwardly away from the main standard means 12. So that the lower and upper support means 14 and 16, respectively, may be made interchangeable, the picture support members have both surfaces oppositely slanted as shown.

A canvas or a picture, indicated schematically by the frame 42 shown in dotted lines in FIGURES 1 and 2, may be easily positioned on the easel stand 16 of the instant invention by sliding the lower and upper picture support means 14- and 16, away from each other a distance slightly in excess of the height of the picture frame 42, inserting the lower portion of the picture frame 42 over the picture engaging surface 38 on the lower picture support member 24, and sliding the upper picture support means 16 downwardly until the picture engaging surface 40 on the upper picture support member 26 abuts the upper portion of the picture frame 42.

A material-holding tray means 44 is preferably foldably secured to the picture support member 24 on the lower picture support means 14 and comprises a bottom 46 and an upstanding peripheral wall 48 forming a materialreceiving receptacle St). The rear end of the bottom 46 and of the side members of the peripheral wall 48 extend toward the main standard means 12 and pass in abutting relationship to the picture support member 24. Note particularly FIGURES l and 6. Any conventional pivot means 52 may be used to secure the tray means 44 to the picture support member 24 for swinging movement in the direction of the arcuate arrow 54- in FIGURE 1 between an assembled position and a collapsed position. It is to be understood that the tray means 44 can be of any desired material such as wood, metal, plastic or the like and that a closable top member (not shown) may be provided on the tray means 44, so that the artists supplies can be left within the receptacle when the easel stand 19 is collapsed for handling or storage.

The base support means 18 preferably includes a transversely extending foot member 55 on each side of the main standard means 12 and a rearwardly extending foot member 58. Each foot member preferably has pads or downwardly extending elements 69 for contact with the supporting surface 62. The rearwardly extending foot member 58 is pivotally secured to the lower end of the main standard means 12 at 64 for movement between a supporting position as shown in full lines and a collapsed position as shown in dotted lines in FIGURE 1. Each of the transversely extending foot members 56 is pivotally secured to the rearwardly extending foot member 58 at 66 for movement between a supporting position shown in full line and a collapsed position, as shown in dotted lines in FIGURES l and 3.

A pair of brace means 68 are pivotally secured to each of the transversely extending foot members 56 and to the rearwardly extending foot member 58 and are each formed of two elements pivotally secured to each other at 7%, and biased by springs 72 to normally urge each of the transversely extending footmembers into their full line positions, with the two elements in alignment.

Any conventional means may be provided for securing the elements in their collapsed position such as spring locks, hooks and eyes or the like (not shown).

After the transversely extending foot members 56 are folded toward the reaiwardly extending foot member 58,

as shown in dotted lines at 56, the entire assembly is folded upwardly against the rear of the lower portion of the main standard means 12, in the direction of the arcuate arrow 74 in FIGURE 1.

The auxiliary standard means 20 is preferably comprised of an upper member 76 and a lower member 73 pivotally secured to each other by a bolt and wing nut means 89. The upper end of the upper member 76 is preferably pivotally secured at 82 to the rear of the spacing block, such as 22. Note particularly FIGURES 1 and 7. An aperture 84 is formed in either of the members 76, or 7 8, and an elongated slot 86 is formed in the other member, so that when the bolt and wing nut means 843 is loosened the lower member 78 may be pivoted about the same, and the entire auxiliary standard means 2% may be collapsed in the direction of the arrow 37 in FIGURE 1. The spacing block 22 maintains the upper member 76 away from the main standard means 12 a sufiicient distance to allow the lower member 78 to be received therebetween. Note FTGURE 7. A notch 39 may be provided in the rearwardly extending foot member 58 to receive the lower end of the lower member 78 of the auxiliary standard means 26 in the supporting position. See FIGURES l and 3. r

In order to conserve space and to facilitate handling and storage, the main standard means 12 may be made relatively short with a main standard extension means 95 being provided to give additional length to accommodate larger pictures. The main standard extension means 90 includes an extension member 92 of the same width and thickness as the main standard means 12, and having a tongue 94 receivable in a pocket 96, which is formed in the upper end of the main standard means 12 and covered by the spacing block 22. Note particularly FIG- URE 7. The main standard extension means 9% may be quickly and easily mounted on the basic easel stand 19 by sliding the tongue 94 into the pocket 95.

It. will now be seen that there is herein provided an easel stand which satisfies all of the objectives of the instant invention and others, including many advantages of great practical utility and commercial importance.

Since many embodiments may be made of this inventive concept, and since many modifications may be made of the embodiments hereinbefore shown and described, it is to be understood that all matter herein is to be interpreted merely as illustrative, and not in a limiting sense.

I claim:

1. An easel stand comprising a main standard means adapted to be positioned at an acute angle with respect to a vertical plane, a lower picture supporting means slidably mounted on said main standard means, an upper picture supporting means also slidably mounted on a said main standard means, each of said picture supporting means including a face member in abutting relationship with the front of said main standard means, a pair of slide members secured to the face member and disposed in abutting relationship with the opposite sides of the main standard means, inwardly extending flanges on each of said slide inember's disposed in abutting relationship with said main standard means, picture supporting membets on said face members extending transversely of said main standard means, spring pressed hinge members secured to said face members and to said picture supporting members for urging the latter into frictional engagement with said standard means, and a foot member pivotally secured to the main standard means at the bottom of the latter, and an auxiliary standard means pivotally connected at its upper end adjacent the upper end of the main standard means and adapted to rest at its lower end on the foot member.

2. An easel stand comprising a main standard means adapted to be positioned at an acute angle with respect to a vertical plane, a lower picture supporting means slidably mounted on said main standard means, an upper picture supporting means also slidably mounted on said main standard means, each of said picture supporting means including a face member in abutting relationship with the front of said main standard means, a pair of slide members secured to the face member and disposed in abutting relationship with the opposite sides of the main standard means, inwardly extending flanges on each of said slide members disposed in abutting'relationship with said main standard means, a picture supporting member on the face member of the lower picture supporting means extending transversely of the face member and having its top sloped upwardly and outwardly from said main standard means for abutting the bottom of a frame carrying the picture, a picture supporting member on the face plate of the upper picture supporting means also extending transversely of the face member and having its bottom sloped inwardly and downwardly toward said main standard means for abutting the top of the frame carrying the picture, spring pressed hinge members secured to said face members and to said picture supporting members for urging the latter into frictional engagement with said main standard means, and a foot member pivotally secured to the main standard means at the bottom of the latter, and an auxiliary standard means pivotally connected at its upper end adjacent the upper end of the main standard means and adapted to rest at its lower end on the foot member.

3. An easel stand comprising a main standard means adapted to be positioned at an acute angle with respect to a vertical plane, a lower picture supporting means slidably mounted on said main standard means, an upper picture supporting means also slidably mounted on said main standard means, a rearwardly extending foot member pivotally connected to the main standard means at the bottom of the latter and swingable in a plane through the longitudinal center line of the latter, a pair of transversely extending foot members pivotally mounted on the opposite sides of the rearwardly extending foot member and swingable in a horizontal plane at right angles to the said vertical plane through the longitudinal center line of the main standard means and the rearwardly extending foot member, and an auxiliary standard means pivotally connected at its upper end adjacent the upper end of the main standard means and adapted to rest at its lower end on the rearwardly extending foot member, when the latter is extended.

4. An easel standard comprising a main standard means adapted to be positioned at an acute angle with respect to a vertical plane, a lower picture supporting means slidably mounted on said main standard means, an upper picture supporting means also slidably mounted on said main standard means, a rearwardly extending foot member pivotally connected to the main standard means at the bottom of the latter and swingable in a plane through the longitudinal center line of the latter, a pair of transversely extending foot members pivotally mounted on the opposite sides of the rearwardly extending foot member and swingable in a horizontal plane at right angles to the said vertical plane through the longitudinal center line of the main standard means and the rearwardly extending foot member, braces each comprised of two elements pivotally interconnected at one end with one element pivotally connected at its other end to the rearwardly extending foot member and the other element pivotally connected at its other end to the foot member and adapted, when the two elements are in alignment to hold the respective transversely extending foot member at approximately right angles to the rearwardly extending foot member, and an auxiliary standard means pivotally connected at its upper end adjacent the upper end of the main standard means and adapted to rest at its lower end on the base support means, when the latter is extended.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 720,842 Peace Feb. 17, 1903 2,059,525 Huelsdonk Nov. 3, 1936 2,271,496 Hofman Jan. 27, 1942 2,526,527 Zander Oct. 17, 1950 2,912,203 Townsend Nov. 10, 1959 2,953,341 Howell Sept. 20, 1960 2,969,607 Grumbacker Jan. 31, 1961 3,095,666 Killen July 2, 1963 FOREIGN PATENTS 459,676 Great Britain Jan. 13, 1957 

1. AN EASEL STAND COMPRISING A MAIN STANDARD MEANS ADAPTED TO BE POSITIONED AT AN ACUTE ANGLE WITH RESPECT TO A VERTICAL PLANE, A LOWER PICTURE SUPPORTING MEANS SLIDABLY MOUNTED ON SAID MAIN STANDARD MEANS, AN UPPER PICTURE SUPPORTING MEANS ALSO SLIDABLY MOUNTED ON SAID MAIN STANDARD MEANS, EACH OF SAID PICTURE SUPPORTING MEANS INCLUDING A FACE MEMBER IN ABUTTING RELATIONSHIP WITH THE FRONT OF SAID MAIN STANDARD MEANS, A PAIR OF SLIDE MEMBERS SECURED TO THE FACE MEMBER AND DISPOSED IN ABUTTING RELATIONSHIP WITH THE OPPOSITE SIDES OF THE MAIN STANDARD MEANS, INWARDLY EXTENDING FLANGES ON EACH OF SAID SLIDE MEMBERS DISPOSED IN ABUTTING RELATIONSHIP 